Glenn McGrath Picks The Most Complete Bowler Of Current Generation

Pat Cummins is the number one Test bowler and has so far played 30 Tests and picked 143 wickets with an average of 21.82. He occupies the fourth spot in the ODI list

Photo: AFP

New Delhi: Legendary fast bowler Glenn McGrath has picked Australia's Pat Cummins as the most complete pacer among the current crop. McGrath was answering 25 rapid-fire questions from 'ESPNCricinfo' on a range of subjects. Asked to name the most complete bowler in world cricket now, McGrath replied: "Pat Cummins. I like the way he goes by." Cummins is the number one Test bowler and has so far played 30 Tests and picked 143 wickets with an average of 21.82. He occupies the fourth spot in the ODI list. The right-arm pacer has featured in 28 shortest format games and scalped 36 wickets so far. Last month, Cummins completed his 100 ODI wickets against South Africa at Boland Park. Cummins achieved the feat during the first ODI against Proteas while playing in his 62nd game. McGrath also addressed the big debate of his era -- who was harder to bowl at, Sachin Tendulkar or Brian Lara? "Tough," he said when asked to pick between the two icons. "I would go with Lara just (a bit) from my experience. The hat-trick wish-list would be Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid." Asked if there was any delivery which was missing from his armoury, he cheekily replied: "the 100miles per hour delivery." According to him, the bowlers work a lot harder than batsmen. "Fast bowlers are better blokes, work harder and batsmen expect everything," he opined. Asked if he would indulge in 'Mankading' a batsman in a World Cup final where he has to get the last wicket but with only two runs to defend, the legendary pacer said he would never do it. He also feels that after watching Jim Carrey's performance in 'Dumb and Dumber', he would like the iconic funny-man to play his role if a biopic is ever made on him. "Brad Pitt or Hugh Jackman," are his other choices. Not known to be an extravagant dresser, McGrath said he nonetheless likes wearing outfits by Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. Away from cricket, the sporting legends that he has felt privileged to meet include Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt, tennis icon Roger Federer and five-time Olympic champion rower Steve Redgrave. (With PTI Inputs)